The number of people on dole queues across Bradford has fallen for the fifth consecutive month.

Figures published yesterday show there are now 14,572 people claiming job seeker’s allowance (JSA) across the district – down from 15,137 the previous month.

Claimant count has fallen consistently since February when it was 16,305.

A breakdown of figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows almost two thirds – 9,445 people – have been claiming the benefit for less than six months. Just 1,985 have claimed for more than a year.

Mike Cartwright, of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “The fall is welcome but generally there is still a sense of nervousness. Our survey responses show recruitment is flat and there is no pick up in employment.”

Councillor Dave Green, who has responsibility for regeneration on Bradford Council, said the reduction was a result of efforts by the Council, the public and private sector working together and the previous Labour Government.

He said: “We hope as a Council we will be able to continue measures to support people back into employment but it is dependent on the national budget cuts.”

Nationally the number of people claiming JSA fell in June by 20,800 to 1.46 million. Unemployment also fell by 34,000 to 2.47 million in the three months to May. At the same time, the number of people in employment increased by 160,000, the biggest rise since August 2006.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said the coalition Government was tackling long-term benefit dependency and worklessness by reassessing people to see if they can work from 2011.

“What concerns me is that while there are more jobs in the economy there is too little evidence of them being taken up by the five million people stranded on out-of-work benefits under the previous Government.”

The ONS figures also reveal there are 1,763 jobs being advertised on Job Centre Plus boards across Bradford.

It is estimated the job centres hold about one-third of the total vacancies that are available.